The years go by, but they are never the same! Each brings its own set of challenges, and 2012 will be no different. Spring frost in fruits, excess water in the west of the country in the spring and severe drought in eastern Canada, and sharp increases in food prices for livestock production, just to name a few. At the same time, all of this brings advantages for some and even attractive business opportunities for others.
One thing is certain: we cannot go back and change our cropping plan and our livestock or cultivar purchases for more frost-resistant options, just as toothpaste cannot be put back into the tube. However, it is in adversity that human genius becomes apparent. When everything is going well, we sometimes forget to question our ways of doing things and go over our income security, crop insurance, income diversification, etc.
For all those who seem to be favoured by 2012, make the most of it and get ready for more difficult years, because there will certainly be some! For the others who are affected, I wish you an easier end of the season and, above all, hope that you take the time to analyze your company and see the possibilities for modifications, improvements, and innovations. At Farm Management Canada, we have tools to help you in this thinking.
The best way to prevent a situation from recurring is to make changes…thought-out changes.
Here’s to good management!
Richard Robert